Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Wednesday he hoped to reclassify marijuana as a narcotic by the end of this year, a reversal two years after the country became a narcotic. One of the earliest in Asia Legalize marijuana.
Mr. Srettha took up the post in August. wrote on social media He wants the Ministry of Health to change the law so that cannabis can only be used for medical and health reasons.
Technically, all cannabis sales in Thailand are for medical purposes, but lax regulations mean many businesses openly sell dried cannabis flower and import it illegally. Smoking weed in public places is also prohibited.
Thailand legalizes cannabis in June 2022, triggering to domestic industry More recently, this has been challenged by competition and oversupply. There are thousands of registered pharmacies in the country, and hundreds of traditional medicine clinics prescribe cannabis. Foreign investors are also backing the construction of high-tech indoor cannabis farms.
The University of Thailand Chamber of Commerce said in a 2022 report that the domestic cannabis industry could be worth $1.2 billion by 2025.
back Thailand’s parliament elected With real estate tycoon Mr Sreeta taking over as prime minister, industry experts expect the new government to tighten regulations on the cultivation and sale of the drug. Mr Srettha told reporters ahead of the May 2023 election that his party, Pheu Thai, did not want “full legalization of cannabis” and would support its use for medical purposes only.
Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region have tough anti-drug laws that carry lengthy prison sentences for those found possessing, using or trafficking cannabis.At least two people executed for smoking marijuana in Singapore last year.
2019Later, Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes.
